Reviewed by Casey Kellogg
‘Tinted Blue’ by Andi Cotten
“When other kingdoms fall, I will be unshaken. You have set me free.” These words from artist Andi Cotten’s song “Standing Free” perfectly encompass the theme of God’s restoring love as it is showcased in her new album.
Cotten, a native Mississippian and mother of three boys, hopes to share her testimony and uplift audiences through her original songs. Her newest album, “Tinted Blue,” paints a beautiful image of the joy and strength found in Christ’s redemption. It is a simple message, one that most of us have heard before, and yet Cotten weaves this theme throughout her songs with an ingenuity and passion that adds depth to the album.
We can hear the emotion in her voice as she sings, “I have never looked more beautiful before / Than the day I was chosen by the king” in her song “Tune of Lilies.” Through each word, we are invited to imagine a beauty and a worth that is not dependent on a certain standard but on God’s love.
It is through this idea that Cotten speaks specifically to women by encouraging them to embrace their potential through Christ. In the title track, she describes an unnamed woman who has forgotten her own worth. Yet, Cotten sings, “She shimmers like a diamond tinted blue.” Listeners cannot help but believe these words that compare this flawed woman to a priceless jewel. We as the audience are encouraged to see ourselves in a similar light, with unmeasurable value, and in doing so are ultimately led to believe in a God whose love can transform even our deepest flaws into diamonds.
The “Tinted Blue” album premiere is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at First Baptist Brookhaven, with attendees encouraged to reserve free tickets via the Facebook event. The album will be available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes.
Casey Kellogg is an intern at Mississippi Christian Living and a sophomore at Mississippi College, where she is studying English writing with a minor in literature. She hails from Nesbit and enjoys listening to musicals and spending time with her cat, Wishes.
